Resolution in Support of Expansion of Foreign Markets for America’s Small Businesses

Resolution in Support of Expansion of Foreign Markets for America’s Small Businesses

Resolution in Support of Expansion of Foreign Markets for America’s Small Businesses

Summary

This resolution outlines the benefits that accrue to companies (even small ones) that engage in international trade.  Additionally, it asserts that a state’s economic growth and ability to create jobs can be significantly enhanced by its ability to develop new markets overseas. Upon review, it was determined that the ideas contained in this resolution were more relevant than ever but that some of the statistics underpinning it needed updating.  We updated the outdated statistics but retained the ideas underpinning the resolution when it was amended.

Model Policy

Whereas, small businesses are the foundation from which America builds its economic strength; and

Whereas, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration there were over 27.5 million small businesses in the United States in 2009, and America’s small businesses employ about half of all American workers; and

Whereas, this body endorses measures designed to increase the success of small businesses, by easing the regulatory burden on the small business community through such legislative initiatives as the model state Regulatory Flexibility Act; and

Whereas, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Exporter Database (EDP), in 2010 approximately 286,661 American small businesses export their goods or services for consumption outside the borders of the United States; and

Whereas, workers in export-related jobs receive wages  15 to 18 percent higher than the national average and exports of goods and services from the United States support nearly 12 million domestic jobs; and

Whereas, one of every five domestic manufacturing jobs is closely tied to exportation, and according to the USDA U.S. farm exports totaled $136.3 billion in 2011, an increase of 27% over 2010, and supported over one million U.S. jobs; and

Whereas, the United States government has numerous export promotion and finance programs designed to benefit local businesses, such as those offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service; and

Whereas, these programs work to develop foreign markets for goods and services and provide financing for export sales at little or no risk to the domestic business entity;

Be It Resolved that as economic growth and job security can be found through the development of new markets overseas, the legislature of the state of [insert state] endorses the efforts of the united States government to support the export of goods and services by the small businesses of our state; and

Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each Member of [insert state]’s Congressional Delegation.

 

Approved with amendments by the ALEC Board of Directors on January 28, 2013.